A second consecutive Championship defeat leaves Portsmouth just 4 points above the relegation zone with 8 games remaining.
An equaliser from Colby Bishop at 1-0 was not enough for Pompey to earn at least a point at Deepdale, with Stefan Thordarson solo goal enough to seal North End the 3 points.
The gap between 17th and 22nd now closes down to four points for Portsmouth, as John Mousinho’s side will need to bounce back after the International break to avoid being sucked back into the Championship relegation battle.
After a performance made for the cameras last at home to Leeds Sunday, it will be a week to forget for the Blues after two disappointing defeats in a row to sides around them.
Pompey had a chance inside the opening twenty minutes when Adil Aouchiche bursted forward on the counter attack after the Blues cleared away a North End free kick, the Sunderland loanee then found Terry Devlin, but the Northern Irishman was unable to give Portsmouth the lead.
A short free kick from Portsmouth was also a chance to open the scoreline, with Andre Dozzell laying the ball off to Josh Murphy, who then found Freddie Potts, but the West Ham loanee’s effort deflected behind for a corner.
Cohen Bramall on his first Portsmouth start played an in-swinging cross into the box where it met Dozzell, but the midfields curling effort went wide of the post.
Half time: Preston North End 0-0 Portsmouth
Paul Heckingbottom made 4 substitutes ahead of the second half, bringing off Mads Frokjaer-Jensen, Jaden Meghoma, Andrew Hughes and Ryan Ledson all coming off for Sam Greenwood, Robbie Brady, Liam Lindsay and club captain Ben Whiteman.
With an hour gone, Mousinho made his first change of the afternoon, bringing off Aouchiche for Liverpool loanee Kaide Gordon who made a positive cameo off the bench midweek at home to Plymouth.
Bramall fired an ambitious 30-yard shot at Freddie Woodman in the Preston goal, but the full backs effort only rattled the crossbar on 67 minutes.
Yengi’s frustrating afternoon up front then came to an end, with the Aussie international coming off for Mark O’Mahony on 70 minutes.
Preston then took the lead with just 15 minutes remaining when Watford loanee Ryan Porteous finished off sub: Ched Evans’ header onto the back post to give The Lilywhites a 1-0 lead.
Pompey did not give up however, with Colby Bishop firing home to equalise for Portsmouth with just seven minutes of normal remaining at Deepdale.
However, Icelandic midfielder: Stefan Teitur Thordarson showed a moment of brilliance when he dribbled the ball around Blues Keeper Nicholas Schmid to put Preston ahead with just minutes of the 90 left to play.
Marlon Pack and Thomas Waddingham came on for Andre Dozzell and Terry Devlin ahead of the five minutes of additional time added on by the fourth official.
Leeds United loanee Sam Greenwood was given a second yellow card after a late elbow on Colby Bishop in the dying moments of the game.
Full time: Preston North End 2-1 Portsmouth
Next up: A chance for John Mousinho’s squad to rest and recover over a two week international break, with Portsmouth’s next fixture being on the 29th March, as the Blues welcome Blackburn Rovers to Fratton Park.
However, Kusini Yengi (Australia), Terry Devlin (Northern Ireland), Mark O’Mahony (Republic of Ireland 21’s), Issac Hayden (Jamaica), and Thomas Waddingham (Australia 21’s) will all embark on their respective journeys across the world during the 2 week break.
The break will give the likes of Alexander Milošević and Connor Shaughnessy time to regain some fitness, which would give Mousinho a much needed boost of players to choose from at the back.
Can the Blues get back winning ways after the International break? With now 2 defeats in a row after a magnificent win at home to top the table Leeds United just a week ago.
Preston: 1. Woodman (GK), 2. Porteous, 19. Gibson, 6. Lindsay (16. Hughes), 3. Meghoma (11. Brady),10. Frokjaer-Jensen (20. Greenwood), 18. Ledson (C) (4. Whiteman), 22. Thordarson, 29. Kesler-Hayden, 7. Keane (12. Evans) 9. Riis (Formation: 3-5-2)
Unused subs: 13. Cornell (GK), 14. Storey, 26. Bauer, 31. Mawene
Goals: Porteous 76’, Thordarson 87’
Bookings: Frokjaer-Jensen 24’, Greenwood (second yellow card) 90+5’
Manager: Paul Heckingbottom
Portsmouth: 13. Schmid (GK), 18. Bramall, 3. Ogilvie, 5. Poole (C), 24. Devlin ( 7. Pack), 21. Dozzell (20. Waddingham), 8. Potts. 17. Aouchiche (14. Gordon), 23. Murphy, 10. Yengi (11. O’Mahony), 9. Bishop (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 31. Archer (GK), 4. Towler, 22. Swanson, 30. Ritchie, 45. Hayden
Goals: Bishop 83’
Bookings: Waddingham 90+2’
Head coach: John Mousinho
Venue: Deepdale
Referee: Tony Harrington
Attendance: 17,240 (including 3,624 Pompey fans)
You can now replay the Pompey Live: Extra-Time podcast from this afternoon's game - Jake Smith was sat alongside Kirsty Roxanne and David Howes to provide reaction and analysis to the match LIVE from the Deepdale press box.
Jake will be returning with even more reaction to today's Championship encounter when The Football Hour airs Monday (March 17th) evening from 6pm - Tom Malley and Ryan Honey will be joining him for that one!
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